BENDIGO'S Tayla Evans is not daunted by the opposition she will race in Saturday night's duel for the Cycling Australia women's national madison title at Melbourne's Hisense Arena.
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Evans will team with Hayley Jones from Wales in the 100-lap contest.
It's a first start for both in the great race.
They will pit their sprint and pursuiting skills against the likes of reigning national champions Annette Edmondson and Jess Mundy from South Australia, and Tasmanian stars Amy Cure, a world points score champion, and Georgia Baker.
Another team to watch will be New South Wales' Ashlee Ankudinoff and Bendigo's Imogen Jelbart.
Back in March, Evans raced to third place in the women's madison at the Bendigo International Madison carnival.
Stakes are higher on Saturday on the steeply-banked velodrome.
Jones, a dual world track track champion at junior level, raced at this year's Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
"Hayley and I are confident of being really competitive in this madison," Evans said on Tuesday.
"There are a lot of quality teams in this race."
Evans said the Australian Madison was a big step up, but a challenge she's looking forward to.
Madisons are determined by laps taken and sprint points.
"It's a great test of sprint and chasing ability, and endurance," said 20-year-old Evans.
"Being on the boards and indoors is always a great test."
Next year, Evans and Jones will team up for Bicycle Superstore on the road.
For Evans a major goal will be the national road titles in Ballarat.
It was a couple of years ago that Evans became more serious about cycling through the human powered vehicle program run at school.
Since then she has raced with the Building Champions squad and had Bendigo cycling great and Austral Wheelrace winner Tony Hughes as a mentor.
Saturday's racing includes the women's Austral.